POTATOES, sugar beat, maize, horse, cow and pig muck - it could all add up to a self-sufficient future in Longstock.

Climate change and alternative fuels are rarely out of the headlines these days, and research and development into linking all of the parish's homes into a system that would provide heating, hot water and electricity, is continuing apace in the quiet Test Valley community.

In one man's barn, the future is quietly humming away.

Chris Reynell, a trained environmental scientist, is one of four villagers behind a plan to harness the potential of biomass - typically comprised of wood, coppicing, straw, manure or garden waste - and use it for energy.

He has invested some £80,000 in a digester, tank and a combined heat and power generator, all of which are housed at his Windover Farm in Longstock Road.

The scheme - called Longstock Energy - is the brainchild of Richard Robinson, Graeme Evans, David Burnfield and Mr Reynell.

A survey two years ago with the help of Reading University and a further one last year on behalf of DEFRA, concluded that Longstock could become a renewable energy village.

The system works by digesting material such as potatoes and maize. It separates into liquid and compost and the bacteria in the liquid produces biogas, which is 70 per cent methane and 30 per cent carbon dioxide.

The gas then powers a specially-adapted diesel generator - the test machine in his barn produces enough energy to power Mr Reynell's house.

He said the whole village seemed to be behind the plan.

"We have had a lot of goodwill from the local people, we have not had one negative comment." he said.

"The village seems to be very keen on the idea. It's a good atmosphere, it's been very positive."

Mr Reynell said the project started about five years ago as part of the parish plan, a vision of what villagers wanted to see over the next 30 years.

He said, due to the rural nature of the surroundings, there was plenty of scope for making use of biomass.

His family's farm is being used as the research test bed for the equipment. The aim is to gather data on what works and does not.

The eventual hope is to have three sites in the village, which each household can hook into for their power.

Mr Reynell said: "All the houses in Longstock have gardens backing onto fields, because of that the process of running pipes is a lot cheaper."

If testing continues to go to plan, Longstock could be producing its own energy within five years.